The immediate past Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, has expressed confusion and disappointment over his dismissal from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Gwarzo stated that President Tinubu informed him that Kano was overrepresented with political appointees, necessitating a reduction in the number of officials from the state.
Despite this explanation, Gwarzo insisted that he was not dismissed due to any misconduct or poor job performance. He suspects that certain individuals may have influenced the President’s decision to remove him.
Additionally, he mentioned that even after his dismissal was imminent, some suggestions were made about his potential replacement, but these recommendations were disregarded.
Gwarzo further argued that Nasir Gawuna, the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate for Kano, should have been given the chance to represent Kano Central in the federal cabinet.
He voiced this opinion during an interview with BBC Hausa, saying: “I was surprised because I wasn’t found guilty of any wrongdoing or poor performance. And I was a minister of state, with the senior minister handling a large portion of the ministry’s responsibilities.”
He added that President Tinubu had given him advance notice of the decision, explaining that Kano North had an excessive number of political officers, and a balance was necessary. “We gave our advice, but it was ignored,” Gwarzo said, suggesting that there might be underlying motives at play.
He also emphasized that if the ministerial position needed to be allocated to Kano Central, Nasir Gawuna, who led the APC in the 2023 Kano gubernatorial race, should have been considered first. “Gawuna should be offered the position first, unless he declines, in which case it could be given to someone else,” Gwarzo argued.
Gwarzo expressed frustration that ministerial positions were offered to other APC gubernatorial candidates from different states, such as Plateau and Zamfara, but this consideration was not extended to Kano Central.